Draft-key retainer



Oct. 9, 1928. 1,686,733

G. F. COUCH DRAFT KEY RETAINER Filed Sept. 22, 1925 Patented Oct. 9, 1928.

@UNITED NT UBE GLENN F; COUCH, OF, .ROGHESTEB, PANY, OF NEW YORK,

DRAFT-KEY RETAINER.

hpplication'filed September 1925. Y serial ltd 57,911.

" 'lhis'invention relates to draft rigging, and more particularly cheek plates associated with said draft rigging ei'ally considered, is-the provision ofa spetherein,

edoutwardly beyond for retainingdraft' riggin keys in position. The principal object of my 1nvent1on,-gen-- 4 Another obj ect of my invention'is the provision-of cheek plates especially constructed -slots and longitudinally grooved for the re strips forretain- Y ing the for retaining-draf "whereby the simplest form of draft keys without'heads or other motionlimiting means may be used in connection therew th.

"A further object flange portions extending outwardly from the edges'ofsaid ception of slidable I closure cooperating draft keys in place.

A still further object of the provision ofcheek sociated sills and formed with slotted portions for the reception of-a-n associated draft key, said slotted portions being framedby j flanges with portions of said flanges extended outwardly beyond the ends of theikey and groovedlongitudinally for receiving slidable closure strips fororetai'ning said keyin place, said closure strips being prevented from-undesired removal by retaining means'closing the, open ends of the. grooves in saidflanges. Other objects andadvantages of my inven tion'will-become apparent as the description proceeds. Y

vReferring claims to a modification of the parts being I cha1-acters, cheek plates 11 'arerillustrated' conof said flanges extend the ends of said keys for v supporting removable keyretaining means."

Y 3,-0r 0ther t key securing means,

"of-my invention is the. provision of cheek plates slotted, in the usual manner, for the-reception of cooperating draft keys, provided with wish to be restrictedto plates' involving connected with associated sills and embodying features of my invention, draft keys Ibeing shown supporting other portions of the associated draft rigging'lwhich amindicated diagrammatically by dot and dashilines.

Figure 2 is a side elevation iUffithQ constructionlillustrated in'Figure l. 7

Referring to the drawings-.1 n'i detail,'"?like designated. byzi li'ke' reference nected with the webs of draft oncenter sills 2, portions only of which are shown. iffRivets connecting means, may serve for securing said cheek plates, to said sills, inthe usual manner. In the aernbodiment ffillllS- trated, thecheek platesv are shown' applied to tlie outer sides of the sills but,'if desired,

cheek I plates embodying: features of. my -inventionmay be applied tov the inner sidesfof said sills Each chee k plate L ilr the present embodiment, isshown provided with slots 4 and 5 for the reception of drafhkeysBfand 7,

respectively, "but it is obvious that I: do not the embodiment 10f my invention in doubleslotted cheek? plates as I the same may be employed :with cheek only-one slotrin' each'p'late.

A coupler S, yoke 9 and front followei 10 supported a-nd lield'in alinement by'ineans" of my invention is plates 'connectedto as and 5 invthe cheek pl-ates 1- are framed by flanges 11, the inwardly extending portions 12 ofwhich extendinto and cooperatewith slots,- of suitable size,;in the webs of sins 2,

and the outwardly extending portions 13 of which servezto increase the bearing areaibetween said flanges and associated draftkeys (Sand 7 as well as providerneans for removably securing said draft keys in-"assernbled position.- In the present instance portions of the horizontally extendingsections of the i I i flange POT-(31011913 are continued, as indicated to the drawings illustratingmy invention, the scope whereof is defined by the particularly in: Figure 1, beyond the normal I'N W YQRK, assic von TQ' THE s Ymn'we'roiq com- N. A CORPORATIONDE: MARYLAND.

Ell

ception of longitudinally slidable closure strips held in said slots let and prevented from undesired removal therefrom by means of retaining members 16. Although, in the present embodiment, the grooves 14 are shown out into the flange portions 13 with thelug or shoulder portions 17 and 18 on either side thereof in the same planes with the surfaces ofthe flanges 13, yet I do not wish to be limited to such a construction as the lug or shoulder portions 17 and13 may be raised above or extended beyond the corresponding surfaces of the flanges 13. Likewise said slots 14, although illustrated as being discontinued adjacent one end of the flange portions 13, as indicated particularly at 19, said slots may, if desired, be continued the full length of the flange portions 13, as indicated at 20, and retaining means 16 may be provided at both ends instead of only one .endof the slidable slot closure members 15.

Although said slot closure members 16, in the present instance, are illustratee as formed by pins with heads 21 constructed by merely bending over an end of a rod for limiting downward movement of said retaining members 16 through corresponding apertures in the flange portions 13 yet, if desired, said retaining membersmay be headed in any desired'fashion. Although said retaining members are shown held in position after insertion by bending over the lower ends thereof, as indicated at 22, yet, if desired, cotter or other well known locking means therefor may be employed. Although longitudinally slidable closure strips are shown at both ends of the keys 6 and 7 it is obvious that I do not, wish to be limited to such a construction as movable closure strips may be .employed at one end only with permanent grooves. After insertion, as illustrated, they are retained in such position by inserting the-locking means 16 in place, as will be understood".

It will be clearthat as retaining means are provided on the cheek plates themselves, ac-

cording tomy invention, it is unnecessary and undesirable to provide either heads on i the key or keys used with said check plates or other motion restraining means thereon, it merely being preferable to round or bevel the ends of sand key or keys, as illustrated in the drawing, to permit application with oversize draft gears.

' Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. In a railway draft rigging, the combination with a draft key, of cheek plates provided with slotted portions engaging said key, said slotted portions being framed by flanges, with portions of said flanges extending outwardly beyond the ends "of the key and provided with longitudinal grooves for receiving key retaining means.

2. In a railway draft'riggin'g, the combination with a draft key, of cheek plates provided with slotted portions engaging said key, said slotted portions being framed by flanges, with portions of said flanges extending outwardly beyond the ends ofthe key and provided with longitudinal grooves, and platesslidably movablein said grooves beyond said key for preventing undesired removal thereof. Y

In a railway draft rigging, the combination with a draftkey, of check plates provided with slot-ted portions engaging said key, said slotted portions being framed by flanges, with portions of said flanges extending outwardly beyond the ends of the key and provided with longitudinal grooves, plates slidably movable in said grooves beyond said key for preventing undesired removal thereof, and means for securing said plates in position. v

t. In a railway draft rigging, the combination'with a draft key, of Check plates formed with key guiding and supporting, flanges, portions of said flanges being extended beyond the ends of the key and formedwith lugs for the reception of key retaining means.

5. In a railway draft rigging, the. combination with a draft key, of check plates formed with key guiding and supporting flanges, portions of said flanges being extended beyond the ends of the keyv and grooved for the reception of key retaining means, and plates slidably movablein said grooves beyond the ends of said key for preventing undesired removal thereof,

6. In a railway draft rigging, thecombination with a draft key, of cheekplates provided with key guiding and supporting ledges, portions of said ledges being extended beyond the ends of the key, provided with grooves for receiving key retaining means, platesslidable-in said grooves beyond the ends of said keyfor preventing undesired removal thereof, and means for securing said plates in position. 1 y

7. A cheek plate for railway draft rigging comprising portions adapted for connection with an associated sill and slotted portions for engaging an associated draft key, said I slotted portions being framed by flangeswith parts of said flanges extending outwardly beyond the normal position of the end of the key and provided with longitudinal grooves for receiving key retainingmeans.

- 8. A cheek plate for railway draft rigging 5 comprising a portion formed for connection with an associated sill and flangeportions.

formed for guiding and supporting an associated draft key, parts of said flange porgrooved for the reception of key-retaining I means; and plates slidably movable in sai grooves for preventing undesired removal of said key. a g In testimony'vvhereof I aflix my signature.

GLENN F. COUCH. 

